Tarisia had potential, mother says

Sherri Caron has a message for those who would mark her daughter's life and tragic death.

"If you want to celebrate her life," Caron said, barely 12 hours after she learned she had lost her youngest child in Tuesday morning's shooting, "then don't celebrate with drugs and alcohol.

"That's not [celebrating] a life. That's a road down the other way."

Tarisia Caron, 18, ran with a fast crowd, Sherri Caron admitted. It's a crowd in which illegal drugs and alcohol are a common denominator.

Caron had gotten word throughout the day Tuesday that Tarisia's friends were planning a big party after Tarisia's funeral.

"This is not what she would have wanted. They may think so," but they are mistaken, Caron said. Two families have suffered so much, she added.

"It would be very remiss of me to let them think that would be OK by the family."

Caron has plenty of ideas for positive, lasting ways for friends to celebrate Tarisia's life.

"Go to school, make something of your life," she suggested. "Contribute back to society."

Tarisia had plans to do just that.

She was a talented artist and a good student, her mother said. With the 3.6 grade point average she accumulated at the Boulder facility at which she earned her GED, Tarisia not only made her own school's honor roll but was named to the national honor roll. In the fall, she planned to study at Great Basin College in Elko, Nev., near where she grew up.

Her mother knew Tarisia had potential - if only she could pull away from the drugs and alcohol that had become her way of life.

There is no conclusive evidence from the sheriff's investigation that either one played a role in Tarisia's death and Kenton Weimer's critical injuries. Detective Travis Bruyer is leading that investigation.

She was at her boyfriend's house the night of her death. Caron said she had gotten to know Weimer during the six months or so that the two had dated off-and-on, and they seemed to be "typical teens."

Caron said the family will hold a private funeral for Tarisia, with cremation and inurnment at Spring Creek, Nev.

To help bring closure for others, she said they also will hold a get-together of family and friends soon, probably at Woodland Park. Arrangements may be made in the coming days for a fund to help with expenses.